Printing-press.



G. B. PANGOAST. PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29,1900.

Patented Dec.27, 1910.

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PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1900.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION r'ILn'n JAN.29,1900.

Patented Dec. 27,1910.

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Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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G. E. PANOOAST.

PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29,1900.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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G. E. PANGOAST. PRINTING mass. APPLIOATION IIL ED JAN.2 9, 1900.

Patented Dec.27, 1910.

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G. E. PANCOAST.

PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED JAH.29,1900.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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G. E. PANCOAST.

PRINTING PRESS.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN.29,1900.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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G. E. PANGOAST. PRINTING PRESS. APPLIGAEEION FILED JAN. 29, 1900.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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G. E. PANCOAST.

' PRINTING PRESS. APPLIOATION FILED JAN.29,19Q0,

Patented Dec.27,1910.

13 SHEETS-fiHBET, 12.

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G. E. PANGOAST.

PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29,1900.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT ornion.

GEORGE E. PANCOAST, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN LITHO-GRAPHIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PRINTING-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Application filed January 29, 1900. Serial No. 3,170.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. PANCOAST, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing- Presses,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to printing presses; and, while in some of itsfeatures it is not limited to any particular class of printing or to anyparticular type of press, it more especially relates to rotarymulticolor presses and particularly to that type of such presses inwhich a plurality of curved printing surfaces are used, one for eachcolor to be printed, said printing surfaces being arranged to printmulticolor designs upon a web of paper or similar material insubstantially instantaneous succession.

An object of my invention is to provide a machine in which differentsizes of printing surfaces may be used, thereby rendering the machineuniversal in regard to the sizes of the printed sheets that may beproduced.

Another object of my invention is to provide an inking mechanism whichwill insure thorough distribution of the ink and thorough applicationthereof to the printing surface and in which the ink-applying part maybe separated or brought into contact with a printing surface withoutdisturbing the mechanism as a whole and which is adjustable for printingsurfaces of different sizes or curvatures and without adjusting theinking mechanisms as a whole, and which will permit the removal of aprinting surface without removing or moving the inking mechanisms as awhole.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a damping mechanismwhich is selfcontained, and simple in construction, and reliable inoperation, and which does not require frequent and fine adjustment, andwhich may be readily adjusted for printing surfaces of differentcurvatures, and in which the supply of water can be accurately adjustedand reliably maintained; also, when a plurality of damping mechanismsare combined in the same press, to provide simple and eflicientoperating means common to all of them for moving them into or out ofoperative position, and which will enable them to be adjusted fordifferent sizes or curvatures of prlntmg surfaces.

It is also an ob ect of my invention to provide eflicient means undereasy control to move the printing surfaces into or out of operativeposition.

Further objects of my invention are to provide an improved construction,permitting the printing surfaces to be readily removed from the machineand replaced therein, to render the means for moving the printingsurfaces into or out of operative position adjustable for differentsizes of printing surfaces, and to otherwise improve and simplify andcheapen and render more practical the use of multicolor printingpresses, especially those of the type above specified, for the finerclasses of printing and particularly lithographic or planographioprinting.

With these objects in view, my invention I consists in the novel parts,improvements and combinations herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, show a printingpress embodying my improvements in their preferred form, the pressillustrated being a multicolor machine capable of printing siX colorscontinuously and simultaneously upon a web of paper or similar material,and by the lithographic or planographic methods of printmg. 7;

Figure l is an elevation of what I term the off side of the machine.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the machine on line 2-2 ofFig. 3. Fig. 3 is a central transverse section of the same on the line33, Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are broken elevations together illustratingwhat I term the driving side of the machine which is the side oppositeto that shown in Fig. 1, and showing certain of the parts in difierentpositions. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken on line 5 -5 in Fig.5. Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of the off side of the machine,with the driving gears omitted, being taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 3.Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view of the support for one end of theprinting cylinders, taken on the line 77 Fig. 6. Fig. 7 is a section online 7 7 Fig. 7. Fig. 8 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the offside of a single inking mechanism. Fig. 9 is a broken sectional view ofthe same on line 99, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an elevation on an enlargedscale of the op posite end of a single inking mechanism. Fig. 11 is abroken sectional view of the same on line 1111, Fig. 10. Figs. 12 and 13are sectional elevations on a still larger scale taken through theinking mechanism on line 12-12, Fig. 9, looking in the direction'o-f thearrow and illustrating the parts of the inking mechanism in differentpositions. Figs. 14 and 15 are sectional details taken on the lines14-14, and 15-15 of Figs. 12 and 13 respectively. Fig. 16 is a sectionalview in detail of the controlling devices for the inking mechanism.Figs. 17

-to 22 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the variouspositions and adjustments of the applying part of the inking mechanism.Fig. 23 is a perspective view of one of the applying parts of an inkingmechanism detached. Figs. 24 and 24 are respectively a side elevationand transverse section of the means for supporting the ductor roller.Fig. 25 is an end view of the ink fountain and ductor. Fig. 26 is a planview of the same. Fig. 27 is a view of the opposite end of the same.Figs. 28 and 29 are detail sectional views of the means for operatingthe fountain roller. Fig. 30 is a sectional elevation illustrating themeans for supporting and operating a plurality of damping mechanisms.Fig. 31 is an end eletion of one damping mechanism. Fig. 32 is a brokenside elevation of the same. 1 Fig. 33 is an elevation of the oppositeend of the damping mechanism. Fig. 34 is a broken side elevation of thesame. Figs. 35 to 42 inclusive, and Figs. 45 to 48 inclusive, aredetailed views illustrating various features of the damping mechanism.Fig. 43 is atransverse sectional elevation taken on line 4343 of Fig.32, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 44 is a similar view ofthe applying part of the damping mechanism shown in a differentposition.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts wherever they occurthroughout the various views.

The machine illustrated belongs to that type of multicolor presses inwhich a plurality of printing cylinders are arranged concentrically witha large central impression drum by means of which a continuous length orweb of paper or similar material is brought successively into contactwith the printing cylinders, thereby receiving a plurality of designs.In many of its features the invention is not limited to the form ofpress shown, as instead of a single impression drum, for instance, anysuitable form of impression mechanism may be used, or instead ofprinting tubes any suitable form of printing surface may be employed.The inking and damping mechanisms, also, are adapted to be used invarious forms of presses, as are also the controlling means for thesame. The controlling means for the print-ing surfaces, and the meanspermitting their removal from the press and substitution of printingsurfaces of different sizes or curvatures are also applicable to otherforms of presses.

Referring now in detail to the particular embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the drawings, 1 represents an impression cylinder, whichis mounted upon a shaft 2 journaled in suitable bearings 3 and 4 carriedby the main side frames 5 and 6. Any suitable impression mechanism maybe employed as far as some features are concerned. The cylinder shownhas an impression surface 7 of suitably yielding material, as rubber orpaper or both, and is driven by any suitable means, those shownconsisting of a ring gear 8 secured to one end thereof which is engagedby a train of driving gears 9. The longitudinal position of the drum isfixed by the bushings 3 and 4, which bear against the hubs 10, bushing 3being longitudinally adjustable by means of a screw 11 to compensate forwear. The web of paper 12 is led from a supply roll around a tensiondevice which as shown consists of the roller 13 yieldingly andadjustably supported by the springs 14 mounted upon the guiding andadjusting rods 15. From the tension device the paper is led to a guidingand smoothing roller 16, then around the drum and away therefrom aroundthe disks 17 to a cutter 18, consisting of a pair of blades mounted uponrotary supports as shown. The sheets pass from the cutter to a deliverydevice 19, consisting of a pair of endless chains 20, which, by means ofsuitable grippers, carry the sheets to a suitable receiver not shown.These devices for manipulating the paper form no part of my presentinvention and need not be further described.

A plurality of printing surfaces 21 are arranged concentrically with thedrum as shown. They are curved and are preferably circumferentiallycontinuous and cylindrical and lithographic in nature. They are alsopreferably shell-like and tubular and removably and replaceably mountedupon cylindrical supports. My invention is not limited to this characteror construction of printing surfaces, however, as many of the featuresthereof are equally useful with other classes of printing surfaces. Theprinting surfaces, especially where lithographic in nature, arepreferably movable into or out of contact or cooperative relation withthe. impression cylinder; and, while any suitable means may be employedfor this purpose, as far as some features of the invention areconcerned, the means herein disclosed for so moving them constitute oneof the features of my invention. In the construction shown, thesupporting cylinders 22 are carried by shafts 23 journaled in boxes 24and 25 slidably mounted in radial guide ways 26 and 27 formed in theframe of the machine. The boxes 24 and 25 are connected by suitablemeans to the radially arranged sliding bars 28 and 29 mounted in radialguide-ways in the frame, and operated and controlled by a pair of camrings 30 carried by the segment disks 31 and 32. Each of the bars 28 and29 is provided with a stud 33 which engages an eccentric cam slot orgroove 34 in the corresponding ring 30. In the embodiment of theinvention shown, the cam slots are of the same length and inclined inthe same direction, and uniformly spaced at angular distancescorresponding to the spacing of the printing cylinders. Each bar isprovided with a strong spring 33, which springs press the bars outwardlyto avoid lost motion between the pins and the grooves. It follows fromthis construction that when the cam rings 30 are operated in unison, theprinting surfaces will be simultaneously and uniformly low- 'ered intoor raised out of contact with the impression drum. For the purpose ofoperating the rings 30 in unison, the segment disks 31 and 32 are gearedto a cross shaft 35 which is driven through a train of gears 36 operatedby any suitable means, the particular form of which devised by me notbeing a part of the present invention, are not shown or describedherein. In order that the amount of pressure between the printingsurfaces and the impression cylinder may be independently adjusted, theconnec tions 37 and 38 between the bars 28 and 29 and the boxes 24 and25 are adjustable in length. In the construction shown, the connections37 on the driving side of the machine are provided with threaded ends.carrying adjusting nuts 39 and 40 which engage opposite sides ofprojections formed on the boxes 24. The connections at the opposite sideare formed by internally threaded sleeves 38 engaging at one end thethreaded ends of the bars 29 and at the other end with studs carried bythe boxes 25, said studs having threads of the opposite pitch to that ofthe threaded ends of the bars 29.

To render the machine universal .as to the size of the printing surfacesused, which constitutes one feature of my invention, it is essentialthat the means for moving the printing surfaces into or out of operativeposition be adjustable to receive printing surfaces of differentdiameters. This ad justment may be accomplished in any suitable way. Inthe construction shown, it is accomplished by manipulating the threadedsleeves 38 at one side of the machine, and by using connections 37 ofdifferent lengths at the other side of the machine.

The printing surfaces are removable and replaceable in the machine andthe means permitting this to be done forms one feature of my invention.The object of this feature of my invention is to enable the printingsurface, with or without its support, to be removed from the machine anda new one to be placed therein, with the least possible disturbance orderangement of other parts of the press. To this end, I provide forremoving the printing surface laterally of the machine and without firstremoving the same from the machine radially with relation to the drum,the only radial movement necessary being'that produced by the meansabove described. This consists in making the supports and guides for theprinting cylinders at one side of the machine displaceable, thus leavingan o: ening in the side of the machine through which the printingsurface, or its support or both, may be removed or replaced in themachine. As shown the connections 37 between the raising and loweringmeans and the boxes 24 are hinged at 41 to the bars 28 and engage theboxes through open slots. By loosening the nuts 40 the connections 37may be thrown down into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 5 In additionto this the frame sections 42 in which are formed the guides 26 for theboxes 24 are pivoted or hinged at 43 to the side frame and may be throwndownwardly or outwardly into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 5, eachframe being provided with one or more projections 44 for the purpose oflimiting its outward movement. Each frame section 42 is preferablyprovided with shoulders 45 which accurately fit corresponding shoulderson the side frame, thus accurately fixing and firmly supporting theframe sections, and with them the printing cylinders, in positioncircumferentially of the impression cylinder. Of course the parts 37 and42 may be otherwise displaceably supported or they may be entirelyremoved when it is desired to remove the printing surface.

When it is desired to place in the machine a printing surface of adifferent diameter or curvature from that of the previous one, it ispreferred to replace the mandrel or support with one of a diametercorresponding to the new printing surface, since it is desirable to havethe printing forms as thin and as light as is compatible wit-h safetyand convenience in constructing and handling them. Then, however, it isonly desired to replace a printing surface by a new one of the samediameter, it is desirable to remove the old printing form and insert thenew one in the press without removing the mandrel. To enable this to bedone with facility, I so support the mandrel atthe end opposite theremovable sections 37 and 42, that the mandrel will be sustained free ofthe impression drum and the inking and damping mechanisms when thesupports 37 and 42 are removed or displaced. In the embodiment of thisfeature of my invention shown, the boxes 25 are firmly guided in theguideways &

27 by the flanges thereof engaging on opposite sides of the side frame,and the mandrels 22 and their shafts 23 have such an engagement with theboxes as to tend to support their free ends independent of any othersupport. This engagement consists of a flange or collar 50 keyed to ahub or ex tension of each mandrel 22, which collars 50 are provided withsteel bearing faces or rings 51 constructed to accurately fit and Workagainst the rings 51 which constitute the inner faces and flanges of theboxes 25. The shafts 23 are extended beyond the boxes 25 and areprovided with threaded ends bearing adjusting and jam nuts 52," whichact to firmly hold the collars 50 against the boxes 25, but arepreferably so adjusted as not to cause any binding of the parts when theopposite ends of the shafts are supported in working position. When thesupports 37 and 42 are removed, the free ends of the shafts 23 may beengaged and partially supported by a receiving shaft such, for instance,as that shown and described in the patent granted to Edward HettNovember 21, 1899, No. 637570.

The printing cylinders are each provided with a gear 53, secured to thecollar 50 by means permitting circumferential adjustment as shown (seeFigs. 7 and 7) and said gears are preferably split and provided withadjusting means to take up back-lash. As shown the gears 53 are engagedand driven by a circular rack or ring gear 5 1 bolted or otherwisesecured to the drum 1. By this means, the printing surfaces are drivenin unison with each other and with the impression drum.

Each printing surface is provided with an inking mechanism and in themachine shown each printing surface is also provided with a dampingmechanism. \Vhen printing surfaces which do not require damping areemployed, the damping mechanism may be omitted or thrown out of action,and 1 de sire it to be understood that many of the features of myinvention are in no wise limited to the use of any particular kind ofprinting surface and are not affected by the presence or absence of thedamping mechanism.

The inking mechanism in its preferred form is composed primarily of fourparts, viz.a supplying part for supplying ink in regulated quantities; adistributing part for thoroughly breaking up or distributing the ink; anapplying part for applying the distributed ink to the form; and asshown, a conveying part for carrying the ink from the distributing partto the applying part. The last part practically forms a branch orcontinuation of the distributing part and is only termed a conveyingpart for the sake of clearness in the description and in the claimsincluding this feature. I The inking mechanisms for the severalsurfaces, are similar in construction and are preferably identical, asshown, and are preferably also, interchangeable either as a whole or intheir various parts, and are adapted to occupy various positions in thepress. They are also self contained, that is to say, the various partsare so associated or connected together and so driven that each inkingmechanism is independent of theothers as well as the other parts of thepress as, for example, the printing surfaces and the damping mechanisms.This self-contained feature resides principally in the fact that allparts of each inking mechanism, not driven frictionally by the printingsurface when in contact therewith, are connected to a common actuatingpart of the press by an independent driving part or power-centerassociated with the inking mechanism and forming a part thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be sufficient to describe one ofthe inking mech anisms in detail since in the machine shown they areidentical.

The distributing part of the inking mechanism is mounted in an auxiliaryframe consisting of the side pieces 60, 61, preferably bolted orotherwise permanently secured to the main frame of the machine and isthus rigidly fixed in position. In the construction shown, this part ofthe inking mechanism consists of aplurality of hard rollers 63, 64, 65,66 and 67 preferably of metal, mounted in fixed bearings in the frames60, 61. A soft roller 68 is yieldingly held in contact with each twoadjacent hard rollers 63 and 64c, 64 and 66,63 and 65, and 67 as shown,there being formed by this arrangement a doubleseries of hard and softrollers arranged alternately with all contacts between the rollersyieldingly maintained. The means for yieldingly supporting the rollers68 (see Figs. 12 and 13) consists of journal boxes 69, one at each endof each roller, said boxes being loosely guided between the framesandthe heads of the bolts or pins 70, the shanks of which pass throughsuitable enlarged perforations in the boxes. Each box is further guidedby a rod or bolt 71 pivoted at one end to the frame and passing througha guide extension 72 of the box 69 and terminating in a guide openingnear the other end of the box. The outer end of each bolt is threadedand provided with an adjusting nut 73 and between the nut and the innerend of the guide extension 72 is confined a compression spring 74 whichthus tends to draw the box 69 inwardly and with it the roller carriedthereby. Owing to the universal manner in which boxes 69are guided thetension of the spring 74 tends to keep the rollers 68 constantlyincontact with the adjacent hard rollers, and this contact will bemaintained irrespective of the position of the inking mechanism .in thepress. This construction also possesses the further advanta e thatinaccuracles or 1rregularities in the settings or adjustments,

and in the surfaces, and in the dimensions of the rollers are largelycompensated for. In other words the rollers do not have to beindividually adjusted for inaccuracies or irregularities in the size orsurface of the rollers whether they occur through faulty construction orthrough use or wear in the machine, and the term wear is meant toinclude any shrinkage or change in shape or size which occurs throughthe age or use of the rollers or changes in the surrounding conditionsor from other causes. The described construction also obviates thenecessity for fine adjustment or setting of the rollers, and overcomesslight inaccuracies in the original setting which consists merely inadjusting the tension of the springs 74. To enable the rollers to bereadily removed and replaced, the boxes 69 are provided with hingedsections 75 which are held in place by thumb screws 76 carried bypivoted bolts 77 having headed ends to prevent the thumb screws 76 frombeing removed and lost.

The shafts of the rollers 63, 6%, 65, 66 and 67, are extended throughthe frame 61 on the off side of the machine, and are provided with gears83, S4, 85, 86 and 87 respectively, by means of which these rollers aredriven. These gears are driven from a shaft 88 which is the main drivingshaft of the inking mechanism from which all parts of the same, notdriven frictionally by the printing surface, are driven. The shaft 88 isdriven from a gear 89 mounted on a pin 90 carried by a bracket 91 fixedto the side frame 6, motion being conveyed from the gear 89 by a trainof gears 92, 93 and94, the last of which is fixed on the end of theshaftSS. The intermediates 92 and 98 are preferably carried by pairs oflinks 95 and 96, as shown, since this construction avoids the use oflong studs projecting from the side frames and affords ready access tothe outer part of the printing surfaces besides forming a rigid andefficient support for the gears. The gears 89 for all the inkingmechanisms mesh with and are driven by a large gear 97 mountedconcentrically with the impression drum, preferably by being fixed toand driven by the shaft 2. The gear 97 thus constitutes a commonactuating part for all the inking mechanisms and acts to drive themindependently of the printing surfaces and the damping mechanism. Theshaft 88 carries a gear 100 which mesheswith the gears 81, S5, S6 and87, and drives the gear 83 through the gear 84 and pinion 101. The gear100 and pinion 101 are made wider than the gears with which they mesh toallow for the endwise reciprocation or vibration of the rollers to whichthe latter gears are fixed. The means for vibrating the rollers is shownon an enlarged scale in Figs. 10 and 11. The shaft 88 is extendedthrough the frame and is provided on its end with a pinion 102. Thepinion 102 meshes with and drives a gear 103, fixed to a beveled pinion104, which in turn drives a beveled gear 105, carried at one end of atransverse shaft 106, ournaled in brackets 107 and 108. The shaft 106 isprovided with a pair of op positely arranged cranks 109, 110, betweenthe brackets 107, 108, and on the outer end of the shaft is formed athird crank 111 which is arranged opposite to the intermediate crank110. The crank 109 engages a slot in a cross head 112 carried by andlocated between fixed collars on the shafts of rollers 66 and 67, andthus causes these two rollers to reciprocate or vibrate in unison,

which rollers it will be noted are located in different series ofcontactmg rollers.

The crank 110 is similarly connected with the rollers 64: and by across-head 113, which rollers are also in different series. The crank111 is connected by a pitman 114 to a sliding head 115 confined betweencollars on the end of the shaft of roller 63. This construction it willbe seen affords a simple, strong and compact mechanism for vibrating thevarious rollers of the distributing part of the inking mechanism. By thearrangement of the rollers in a plurality of series, and the vibrationin opposite directions of the alternate rollers of each series, the flowof ink is dividedinto a plurality of streams, and each stream isindependently and thoroughly distributed, thus insuring a very even anduniform application of the ink to the printing surface.

Ink is applied to the printing surfaces by a plurality of soft rollers120. These applying rollers, together with the other soft rollers,should be covered with a material adapted to be used with the particularclass of printing surface and with the character of ink employed. Forinstance, when a lithographic or planographic printing surface is used,these rollers should consist of a soft body as rubber or fiber coveredwith leather or felt or other suitable fabric. If a relief surface isused, the applying rollers at least should be covered with the ordinaryroller composition. The applying rollers receive the ink from thedistributing rollers, preferably and as shown, through intermediateconveying rollers 121 and 122 yieldingly held in contact with both theapplying rollers and the distributing rollers. It is desirable toseparate the ink-applying rollers and the printing surfaces when themachine is not in operation and it is an object of my invention toprovide for this separation without disturbing the inking mechanism as awhole. To that end I move the applying rollers lnto or out of contactwith the printing surfaces without disturbing any more of the otherparts of the inking mechanism than enough to conveniently maintaincontinuous connection between the distributing and applying parts. Inthe construction shown this is accomplished by mounting the applyingrollers 120 for each printing surface on a pair of oppositely arrangedpivoted frames 123, pivoted to the main frame of the machine by bolts124 which are adjustably secured in slots 124, the free ends of theframes 123 being connected to and controlled by a pair of rock shafts125, 126, which are connected to the frames 123 by arms 127, 128, andlinks 129, 130. The shafts 125, 126 are operated in unison by meanspresently described to move the applying rollers into or out ofoperative position. For the purpose of yieldingly holding the applyingrollers 120 in contact with the printing surfaces the journal boxes 131,in which they are mounted, are slidably supported in the frames 123 andthe boxes 131 are pressed toward the printing surfaces by springs 132mounted on studs 133 which are threaded and provided with adjusting nuts134 for varying the tension of the springs. The riders or conveyingrollers 121, which are preferably hard rollers, are yieldingly held incontact with the two adjacent applying rollers 120 by means of thefollowing construction :The bearings 135 are pivoted on bolts 137 at oneend by means of elongated openings. Rods 138 are also pivoted on thebolts 137 and pass through guide openings in the lugs 139 formed onparts 135. The outer ends of the rods 138 are threaded and are providedwith adjusting and jam nuts 140, between which and the lugs 139 areconfined compression springs 141, which act to press the bearings 135inward, thus keeping the rollers 121 in close contact with the adjacentapplying rollers. The soft rollers 122 are preferably constantly held incontact with the rollers 121 and also with the distributing rollers 66and 67. As shown the rollers 122 are mounted in bearings 145 slidablymounted and guided on rods 146, which are pivoted concentrically withthe rollers 66, and 67. The outer ends of the rods 146 are threaded andprovided with adjusting nuts 147, between which and the inner ends ofthe bearings 145 are confined compression springs 148. The springs, itwill be noted, always tend to hold the rollers 122 yieldingly in contactwith the rollers 66 and 67. Rollers 122 are maintained in yieldingcontact wit-h the riders 121, whatever the position of the applyingrollers 120, by means of compression springs 150 engaging the bearings145 through pivotpieces 151 and supported at the outer ends by pivotpieces 152. The bearings 135 and 145 are provided with pivoted caps 136and 153 respectively to enable the rollers 121 and 122 to be readilyremoved.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings theapplying part of the inking mechanism is manipulated and adjusted fordifferent diameters or curvatures of printing surfaces by the mechanismnext described.

The shafts 125, 126 are geared together by pinions 155, 156, so as tooperate in unison and are controlled by an arm 157 carried by the shaft126 and adjnstably secured thereto by a bolt 158 passing through anelongated opening 159 in the arm 157 and entering a threaded opening inthe pinion 156. The arms 157 of the various inking mechanisms areconnected together by rods 158, which are preferably adjustable inlength as shown, and the arms 157 of the two lower inking mechanisms(see Fig. 6) are connected to a common operating lever 159 by the rods160 and slotted block 161, the rods 160 being adjustably connected tothe block 161 as shown. The lever 159 is pivoted near the base of themachine and is operated by the segment disk 32, being connectedtherewith by pin 162 on the segment 32, engaging a slot 163 in thelever. It follows from this construction that when the segment disk 32is operated the pairs of applying roller frames 123 will besimultaneously moved more or less toward or away from the printingsurfaces as desired and that the operative positions of the applyingrollers with relation to the printing surfaces may be adjusted either tovary the pressure of the rollers upon the printing surfaces or to enableprinting surfaces of different curvatures to be used in the press. Inthe diagrammatic views, Figs. 17 to 22 inclusive, are illustratedseveral of the various positions the parts may assume.- Fig. 17illustrates the applying rollers in operative position with relation toa printing surface of the smallest diameter that the machine shown isdesigned to use. When the parts are thus adjusted it will be noted thatthe links 129, 130 are arranged to point inwardly with relation to thearms 127, 128, and that the bolt 158 is located in the center of theslot 159. It will be noted also that the pivot bolts 124 for the frames123 are located at the inner ends of the slots 124 in the side frames.Fig. 18 illustrates the parts in the same adjustment but with theapplying rollers in an inoperative position. Fig. 19 illustrates theparts adjusted for cooperation with printing surfaces of a sizeintermediate of the largest and smallest that the machine shown isdesigned to use. \Vhen the parts are thus adjusted, it will be notedthat the bolt 1 58 is at one extremity of the slot 159, and that thepivot bolts 124 are in an intermeditae position in the slots 124.

The adjustment of the pivots 124 in the slots 12% is desirable to keepthe pressure of the applying rollers 120 upon the print ing surfaceequalized when the diameter or curvature of the printing surface ischanged. If only one applying roller were carried by each frame 123 thisadjustment would not be necessary. Fig. 20 shows the parts in the sameadjustment as in Fig. 19, but with the applying rollers in aninoperative position. Fig. 21 shows the parts adjusted for the largestdiameter of printing surface that the machine shown is designed to use.hen the parts are thus adjusted the bolt 158 is at the lower end of theslot 159, the bolts 124: are at the outer extremes of the slots 12 1 andthe links 129, 130 are turned in an outward direction with relation tothe arms 127, 128 instead of an inward direction as shown in theprevious figures. Fig. 22 shows the parts in the same adjustment butwith the applying rollers in an inoperative position. It will be seenthat any one or more of the inking mechanisms may be separated from theoperating and controlling means by simply loosening the bolt 158.

In the particular construction illustrated, the ink-supplying partcomprises a fountain 165, in which is mounted for rotation a fountain ordoctor roller 166. Arranged above the fountain and in contact with thedoctor roller is a doctor blade 167, provided with means for varying thepressure of the edge of the blade against the roller as usual. Ink istaken up from the fountain roller by the ductor roller 168, which ispreferably a soft roller. By this roller the ink is conveyed to thefirst roller 63 of the distributing part of the inking mechanism. Toprovide for keeping the fountain level and to accomplish that withoutderanging the operative relation between the fountain roller 166 and theductor roller 168 and between the ductor 168 and the distributing roller63, irrespective of the position of the inking mechanism in the press,the fountain and the ductorare made adjustable together as a unit withrelation to the rest of the inking mechanism.

This is done by mounting the ductor and fountain, together with theiroperating mechanism, on an auxiliary frame consisting of the side pieces169, 170, which are tied together by the fountain 165 as shown, (seeFig. 26) and pivoting this auxiliary frame concentrically with thedistributing roller 63. This is done without putting the weight of thefountain frame on the shaft of the roller 63 by mounting the fountainframe on extensions of the bushings 172 which form the bearings for theshaft of roller 63, see Figs. 9 and 11.

The fountain roller 166 is operated by a short shaft 175 mounted in anelongated boss of the side piece 170, which is connected to the fountainby the spring held clutch j 1'76, as shown, whereby the fountain may bereadily disconnected from its operating mechanism and removed. The shaft175 carries a ratchet 177, near its outer end, which ratchet is engagedby a pawl 178 carried by an arm 1'79 loosely pivoted on the end of theshaft 175. The pawl receives a constant throw, the number of teeth ofthe ratchet engaged thereby being regulated by a guard arm 180 looselypivoted on the shaft 175 and adj ustably held by the arm 181 whichengages the fixed segment 182 by a spring detent 183. The arm receivesan oscillating motion from the crank pin 184C carried by the cam disk185 through a connecting rod 186. The cam 185 is carried by a gear 187,which is loosely mounted on a stud 188 fixed in a bracket 189 secured tothe side frame 61 of the inking mechanism. The gear 187 is driven fromthe power shaft 88 of the inking mechanism by a compound gear trainconsisting of the pinion 190 mounted on a shaft 191 and carrying thegear 192, which receives motion from the pinion 193 fixed on the shaft88. The stud 188 is preferably mounted concentrically with the shaft ofroller 63, or substantially so, in order that the throw of the pawl 178will be the same for all posit-ions of the supplying part with referenceto the rest of the inking mechanism.

Theductor roller 168 is mounted in a pair of arms 195 loosely pivoted onthe shaft 196 which is journaled in the frames 169, 170 and'is providedwith an arm 197 at one end which arm engages the cam 185. The other endof the shaft 196 is provided with an arm 198 which is engaged by acompression spring 199 adjustably held in confinement by a nut 200,threaded on the free end of the guide rod 201 which is pivoted to theframe and passes through an opening in the arm 198. The spring 199 actsto keep the arm 197 constantly in contact with the cam 185, which isthus caused to rock the shaft 196. The arms 195 are yieldingly confinedto rock or oscillate with the shaft 169 by means of the plate springs202 carried by fixed collars 203, and loosely engaging the arms 195, asshown. The tension of the springs 202 is adjusted by the rigidlysupported plates 20 1 which may be adjusted to engage and support thesprings 202 nearer to or farther from their free ends by means of theadjusting nuts, as shown. The function of the springs is to hold theductor roller in yielding contact with both the fountain roller 166 andthe distributing roller 63 thus insuring contact between these rollersthroughout their length. Any other form of spring connection between theductor roller 168 and the shaft 196 may be used. The bearings on thearms 195 are provided with hinged sections 205 to enable the roller 168to be i readily removed. It will be noted that since

